Maple Leafs Trade Deadline 2016: Rumour Roundup

Good morning TLNers! It’s the biggest trade day on the NHL calendar, and while Toronto has already completed a number of deals (Dion Phaneuf, James Reimer, Daniel Winnik, Roman Polak, Shawn Matthias, Nick Spaling… holy hell, that’s a lot of trades), there’s still a couple expected to drop today. Hell, Toronto might be the most active team in the NHL today even after their busy February.

Here are all the latest rumours surrounding the team, and what we expect to go down before the 3:00pm trade deadline…

P.A. Parenteau is expected to be dealt today, despite leaving Saturday night’s game with a minor upper-body injury. There are a lot of rental wingers on the market, so we’re not quite sure what Parenteau will fetch in the end, but TSN’s Gary Lawless reported yesterday that Toronto did ask the New York Islanders for a second-round pick so that’s the current expectation. The Islanders aren’t yet willing to make that deal, but they’re likely the frontrunner and considering what other wingers have gone for recently, a second-rounder isn’t an unreasonable ask.

Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston believes that Parenteau will easily fetch that second-round pick and describes the market for him as “pretty strong”, so there looks to be interest from a number of other teams as well. Here’s what he told Sportsnet 590 yesterday…

“He’ll get the Leafs a second-round pick. He’s played very well. He’s made use of the extra ice time he’s been given versus where he’s been the last couple of seasons. I don’t think there is any way he isn’t traded. That’s how he feels. That’s how the organization feels.”

Furthermore, I’m sure that Parenteau knows he’s likely heading to a playoff team today, but it’s pretty cool how much he’s fond of Toronto and the Leafs organization. In fact, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that he’s back next year.

Parenteau on re-signing w/ TOR “I’ve been treated so well by Lou and Mike that I would definitely consider coming back if I had the chance.”

Another player that’s expected to be moved today is Jared Cowen, who recently arrived in Toronto via Ottawa in the Dion Phaneuf trade and is currently assigned to the AHL Marlies. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported a few days ago that the Leafs actually told Cowen they will try and move him, and Elliotte’s Headlines partner Damien Cox took that a step further and reported that Chicago is a possible fit with Bryan Bickell coming back to Toronto. Of course, any hypothetical deal with the Blackhawks that sees Bickell heading to the Leafs would also see a ‘sweetener’ included as well – Toronto certainly isn’t taking that salary on out of the goodness of their hearts.

And that brings us to the third asset likely to be moved by the Leafs today… cap space. According to General Fanager, Toronto has over $8.2M in deadline day cap space available today. They could very, very easily eat some bad contracts for other teams if they’re willing to send picks and prospects along with them. Bickell certainly fits the bill there, but almost every team in the league has an asset they’d like to get rid of and the Leafs are certainly willing to flex their financial muscle in exchange for assets.